The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 5 of the 2024/25 A-Leagues Mens season.
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Perth Glory vs Western UnitedFriday November 22, 5:30pm |
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Where to from here for the Glory? Playing like anything but their name as of late they’ve been sunken in four of their last five clashes, the other of which was an incredibly dull nil-all draw. Most recently they were humiliated 5-0 by Melbourne City at home and just last month they were thrashed 6-1 by the ‘Bulls’ in Campbelltown. Whilst diving back in further this year they were defeated by Sydney FC 7-1 and City again 8-0, with both matches away from home. Over their last three consecutive games, despite boasting the likes of Socceroo Adam Taggart (20 goals + 3 assists from 25 games last season) and veteran forward Nikola Mileusnic (produced six goals and six assists across all competitions last campaign), Perth have conjured up just one shot on target a piece over the course of their last three straight games. It doesn’t matter what level of Football you compete in. That simply isn’t good enough! They are now tasked with the heavy responsibility of turning their form around this Unite Round against a John Aloisi coached Western United side that were dudded heavily in their last start 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United in SA. With the ‘Green & Black’ undoubtedly seething both teams will have plenty of reasons to put on a spectacle at Allianz Stadium.
Perth’s latest three results and goal scorers; L 5-0 vs City @HBF Park, D 0-0 vs Mariners @Industree Group Stadium and L 2-0 vs Phoenix @HBF Park.
Western United’s latest three results and goal scorers; L 2-1 vs Adelaide United @Coopers Stadium – Kane Vidmar 10′, L 1-0 vs City @AAMI Park and D 1-1 vs Wanderers @Ironbark Fields – Hiroshi Ibusuki 48′.
He was mentioned before but it’s Adam Taggart who’ll be looming large as the most vital player in this game. With the 19X capped Socceroo and 2X A-League Golden Boot winner scoreless from Perth’s opening four games this season, he’ll no doubt be itching to find the back of the net against a ‘Green & Black’ side that have conceded 45 shots over the course of their last three consecutive clashes.
Western United have been fairly resilient so far this campaign in terms of the pressure they’ve been able to soak up, but Taggart, a Striker who’s scored 8+ goals in seven seasons throughout his professional career is the type of player who is well-primed to break down the oppositions relatively inexperienced defence and pounce with a couple of goals to his name. Because if he can’t Japanese duo Riku Danzaki and Hiroshi Ibusuki are positioned well on the right to challenge Perth on behalf of Western United. There are plenty of exciting names going around in this clash but Taggart is undoubtedly the biggest of them all and the make or break player of the affair.
Betting tips: Pick an upset Glory victory at $3.20 (Dabble)
Also pick the Glory to open the scoring at $2.37 (Bet365)
Finally you can back there to be over 3.5 goals scored at $2.30 (Bet365)
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Newcastle Jets vs Central Coast MarinersFriday November 22, 8:00pm |
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It’s the first instalment of three F3 Derbies being contested this season. With the Jets suffering a last start three-goal defeat to the Wanderers and the Mariners likewise against the Phoenix, who will rise to the occasion and collect an incredibly valuable three competition points? However working extremely heavily in the Central Coast’s favour is the fact that they’ve won 10 of their last 12 clashes against Newcastle and that they’ve also fashioned exactly three goals a piece in four out of their last five matches against them. And whilst Mark Jackson’s reigning champions will certainly be hoping that works in their favour here, the ‘Novocastrian’s’ are only two games removed from their thrilling 2-1 upset over Macarthur at Campbelltown Stadium. The incredible form that saw a young Eli Adams score two special goals over a five-minute period will have even the Mariners shaking in their boots if their arch-rivals can once again discover that type of form. Unite Round brings all sorts of different gloriously unexpected moments to the table and as a result anything can happen! Throughout their colourful history against one another neither the Jets or the Mariners have taken a backwards step against one another and I expect that to be the same right here on Friday night.
Newcastle’s latest three results and goal scorers; L 4-1 vs Wanderers @CommBank Stadium – Kosta Grozos 67′, W 2-1 vs ‘Bulls’ @Campbelltown Stadium – Eli Adams 56′, 60′ and L 1-0 vs City @McDonald Jones Stadium.
Central Coast’s latest three results and goal scorers; L 3-0 vs Phoenix @Industree Group Stadium, D 2-2 vs Shanghai Shenhua @Industree Group Stadium – James Ngor 75′ and Bailey Brandman 90+5′ and D 0-0 vs Glory @Industree Group Stadium.
These two sides always contest an incredibly tough battle whenever they’re pitted against one another and as a result choosing a winner here is far from easy. Both sides have had rocky starts to the new campaign and would like to probably each be a bit higher up on the ladder as well. The Jets are up and down this campaign in terms of form, having won one and lost two games so far. Whilst the Mariners have three draws and a loss. With Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Marco Tulio no longer playing for the respective rivals, both sides are still trying to unearth their next generational goal scorer. ‘Stama’ had 17 goals for ‘Newy’ last season, whilst Tulio conjured up 5 goals + 4 assists from just 11 games for the Central Coast. And in an affair that has the potential to rain down goals, both teams may well find their next ‘superstar’ guy.
However if not it could be an equally as entertaining defensively gritty affair to witness. If we do see the goals flying in though for Newcastle look out for the flairy Brazilian Wellisol to create some magical moments. Or for the Mariners it could be Wellisol’s former teammate at Independente Futebol Sao Joseense, Michael Doka who looks to crack open their F3 rivals. As the crafty Midfielder procured 3 goals + 7 assists for his club last campaign. Exciting moments away either way in what should be another storied chapter added to their fierce history against one another.
Betting tips: Look for both sides to register 1+ goals a piece at $1.57 (Bet365)
And look for 1+ goals to be scored in H1 at $1.33 (Bet365)
Whilst you can also pick the Jets to win the most corners at $1.98 (UniBet)